We have a small tree out front that we have put our chameleon in so many times. Today we were working in the flower gardens, and we kept checking on her, but the next time I looked for her she was gone. I'm worried about her and wondering where she could have gone? We checked out yard and our neighbors yards for an hour and no signs of her. We live in Virginia what are her chances of survival? Could she climb a very old large tree? I know she can't easily put her hands around it like she could a branch, but can she climb a tree?!
Missing Graceful Chameleon
- Thread starter Dbernardo
- Start date
Yes she can climb a tree with no problems. When my veiled was younger I put him in our bay window on the plants and went to the other room for 2 minutes. Came back and he was gone. Looked for over an hour and found him down inside a plant I had looked in 4 times. They can get away quick so it is always best to keep an eye on them when they are free ranging. Could a bird have snatched yours up? Sometimes I'll take mine out to our small tulip tree and let them climb around for a half hour or so but im always there watching them.
I was worried about a bird maybe, but we never heard anything. She was not far from us at all, but we were weeding the flower bed and we took turns checking on her. If she wasn't taken she is probably in the super tall, old tree in our side yard. There is no was for us to climb to where she would be. :-( I almost put her inside, but talked myself out of it because I am usually a worry wart and I told myself she'll be fine. So sad. Poor girl. She was a sweet heart.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
I have a Graceful and it's often hard for me to see him in his inside tree. Keep looking I'm sure she is close by. If she got off the small tree she most likely when up the next tall tree that she came to. Try looking at night with a spot light. They shine at night and it's easier to see them. I hope you find her. Don't give up. Keep looking. She is out there.
She will be in trees or bushes. At night look for the curled up tail.
CHEERS!
Nick
CHEERS!
Nick
MelissaB
Avid Member
Don't totally lose hope. There have been a few members that found their wayward chams months later.
If I were you, I'd keep an eye out for her, she still could turn up. If she's up in the tall tree, she might come down later, looking for food and water. I hope you find her.
My dilemma, she could be anywhere. She started out in the small red leafed tree...We think she went up the big tree, we looked in every bush, shrub, all areas for over an hour. I'm sure she is enjoying it right now, but it's been dry here and it will get cold... I'm starting to worry that she is long gone now...all of these trees have connecting branches...
Attachments
junglefries
Avid Member
We do have a lot of owls and TONS of Red Tailed Hawks in VA. Racoons, black and corn snakes, cats and possums, also. You must be careful. Sorry.
OMG I wasn't even thinking about most of those predators. Poor girl. I'm hoping she can hide well. I've pretty much given up hope of finding her, but the not knowing what happened sucks. I'll wait a while before I get another one and definitely will watch it more closely outside and take it outside only when I can watch 100%. A very hard lesson learned.
Poor girl. I'm hoping she can hide well. I've pretty much given up hope of finding her, but the not knowing what happened sucks. I'll wait a while before I get another one and definitely will watch it more closely outside and take it outside only when I can watch 100%. A very hard lesson learned.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
OMG I wasn't even thinking about most of those predators.
Unfortunately we hear this story a few times every summer. Chams fool us into thinking they are slow and sedentary because we see them most in confinement. Once they realize they can get to "real" trees outdoors they can be gone in a few minutes. I hope you find her.
reptileguy112
Member
I let my older chameleon hang out in a five foot persimmon tree all the time and there is a 30 to 40 foot tree about 20 feet from it so she ins't going to hang out in there any more.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
One thing I've considered in the past is to cover the cham's free range tree with a protective net so it can't actually leave the tree. You can buy flexible netting from a company called Bird-X. Designed to keep birds from pecking at orchard fruit. As long as the cham can't squeeze through the mesh it should work and won't hurt the tree.
I was thinking about that bird netting today, too bad I didn't think about it before. Watch your Chameleons, it sucks to lose one. I'm just sick to my stomach thinking of all of the possible outcomes for her. I will definitely get another chameleon, but I'll wait a little bit. Leona was a big loss, such a sweet and easy going girl.
